WORRIED parents living in the shadow of a bail hostel which has housed sex offenders will discuss concerns for their children's safety at a meeting with probation, council and police chiefs.

Bosses at Highfield House bail hostel, Lydia Street, Accrington, came under fire from people living nearby after two child sex attackers who had been staying there committed further offences while on bail.

Following talks between Lancashire Probation Service and Hyndburn Council, a liaison group has been set up to try and "build bridges" between worried residents and the authorities.

The Home Office is investigating events leading up to the disappearance of a serial paedophile who went on the run in September, prompting a police manhunt.

Child molester Michael Wilson, 38, formerly of Southport, had been put on a train at Accrington station by probation staff who said he was too dangerous to stay at the hostel.

Wilson, who is banned from approaching children, was found by police four days later - but only after he had been spotted apparently holding hands with a four-year-old boy in a Preston takeaway.

Residents living near the Accrington hostel were further outraged last month when the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed that a man who abducted two schoolgirls had committed a further sex offence while on bail in the town.

A probation chief had previously described Daniel Belsham, 36, as "not a real sex offender". But a judge at Preston Crown Court placed him on the sex offenders' register after hearing he had played strip poker with the abducted 10 and 11-year-olds at his Heysham flat. Three or four local residents will meet behind closed doors tomorrow with council chiefs, probation workers and the police at the first meeting of the new liaison group.

Resident Walter Brown, 40, who lives opposite the hostel in Lydia Street, said: "Hopefully we can build some bridges with the probation service.

"Residents here have got worries about the cases of Michael Wilson and Daniel Belsham.

"We want to talk about what we think has gone wrong and where things go from here."

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "This council set up a liaison group in Oswaldtwistle, where residents had concerns about gas leaks from the Nipa Laboratories chemical plant.

"Although the subject of these talks is different, the aim is the same - to help worried residents talk to the authorities about their concerns."

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